Creating a status field

[DSLfuel]

I have a Case Tracking database that has a portal linked to an Actions database. When a customer opens a new case an Open action is created in the portal and consequently in the Actions database. On the Case Tracking database I have a field that lists the status of this particular case. I want to fill this field in the with the current status but still be able to index the field as people need to search by this. I'm not sure how to get this field to list the most current status without using a calculation field. I could write a script to lookup the value but I'd have to constantly be running the script so that the field never contained the wrong status. Any help is appreicated, thanks...

[jenniweiss]

Are particular actions opened or closed or is a case open until a closed action appears in the Actions database?

[RussBaker]

I use something similar for a contacts /actions outstanding system. I use 2 layouts with different portals in them. One just shows all the items relating to the contact using a ContactID::ContactID relationship. The other uses a ContactID_Status::ContactID_Status relationship and shows only those items which are still outstanding, where "Outstanding" is the contents of the Status field in the second relationship.

[DSLfuel]

A case is open until a closed action appears in the Actions database.